Royal Copenhagen Otter
Vintage 1930s Danish Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Finding the Right Animal-sculptures for You
Invite the untamed wonders of the animal kingdom into your home — and do so safely — with the antique, new and vintage animal sculptures available on 1stDibs.
Artists working in every medium from furniture design to jewelry to painting have found inspiration in wild animals over the years. For sculptors, three-dimensional animal renderings — both realistic and symbolic — crisscross history and continents. In as early as 210 B.C., intricately detailed terracotta horses guarded early Chinese tombs, while North America’s native Inuit tribes living in the ice-covered Arctic during the 1800’s wore small animal figurines carved from walrus ivory. Indeed, animal sculpture has a long history, and beginning in the 19th century, the art form started becoming not only fashionable but artistically validated — a trend that continues today. At home, animal sculptures — polished bronze rhinos crafted in the Art Deco style or ceramic dogs of the mid-century modern era — can introduce both playfulness and drama to your decor.
In the case of the frosted glass sculptures crafted by artisans at legendary French glassmaker Lalique, founded by jeweler and glass artist René Lalique, some animal sculptures are purely decorative. With their meticulously groomed horse manes and detailed contours of their parakeet feathers, these creatures want to be proudly displayed. Adding animal sculptures to your bookcases can draw attention to your covetable collection of vintage monographs, while side tables and wall shelving also make great habitats for these ornamental animal figurines.
Some sculptures, however, can find suitable nests in just about any corner of your space. Whimsical brass flamingos or the violent, realist bronze lions created by Parisian sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye are provocative and versatile pieces that can rest on windowsills or your desk. Otherwise, the brass cat shoehorns and bronze porcupine ashtrays designed by Viennese artist Walter Bosse are no longer roaming aimlessly throughout your living room, as they’ve found a purpose to serve.
Embark on your safari today and find a fascinating collection of vintage, modern and antique animal sculptures on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024To tell Royal Copenhagen seconds, locate the maker's mark. You'll usually find it on the bottom of pieces. If you see a fine vertical line cut into the three lines of the maker's arched logo, your piece is likely a second, meaning that it didn't meet Royal Copenhagen's quality standards at the time of production. Because the line can be very faint, it may be helpful to use a magnifying glass when examining your piece. Shop a large collection of Royal Copenhagen porcelain wares on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Royal Copenhagen is still in business but the company has undergone many buy-outs and acquisitions over the years. Originally founded in Copenhagen in 1775, the company imitated the exquisite china from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Royal patronage and top-quality craftsmanship quickly earned the brand a reputation, making its products quite collectible. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Royal Copenhagen plates and other pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify a Royal Copenhagen pattern, first examine the backstamp on your piece. The official Royal Copenhagen website has a reference guide that you can use to determine the year of your piece's production based on this stamp. From there, you can search the pattern resource on the official website for that year and find out the name of your Royal Copenhagen pattern. Find a collection of Royal Copenhagen china on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Royal Copenhagen still produces some figurines. However, most of the manufacturer's most well-known lines are no longer in production. As of January 2022, only the annual figurines are still currently in production. Today, Royal Copenhagen is a brand owned by Fiskars Group rather than an independent company. You'll find a collection of Royal Copenhagen figurines on 1stDibs.
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